Mobile computing device and method with intelligent pushing management

• US 8,688,826 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Black, Gregory R., Albrecht, Robert L., Ayalur, Venkateswaran, Periasamy, Ashok, Alva, Prashanth
• Primary Examiner(s): WASEL, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US12/908,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-225
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method (700) and mobile computing device (200) are described. In its simplest form, the method includes the steps of: operating (710) an application in synchronous communication with an application server via a persistent IP session, defining an active mode, wherein the synchronous communication is automatically enabled by establishing a persistent IP session according to a prearranged schedule; and providing (720) a dormant mode wherein the synchronous communication is automatically disabled in the mobile device by closing the persistent IP session according to the prearranged schedule. Advantageously, energy can be saved in the mobile computing device, thereby extending the life of an energy storage device or a battery. By the use of intelligent pushing management, substantial energy savings can be gained, by using prearranged scheduling of dormant and active modes.

Claims

1. A method of saving energy in a mobile device running an application in synchronous communication with an application server, comprising the steps of:

operating an application in synchronous communication with an application server via a persistent IP session, defining an active mode, wherein the synchronous communication is automatically enabled by refreshing the persistent IP session according to a prearranged schedule; and

providing a dormant mode wherein the synchronous communication is automatically disabled in the mobile device by closing the persistent IP session according to the prearranged schedule,

wherein the operating step includes receiving push notifications from the application server on the persistent IP session, and the providing step includes closing the persistent IP session and thereby ending further push notifications.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein in the providing step, the persistent IP session is closed by sending a TCP/IP connection header including a connection-token close in accordance with HTTP1.1 standard.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the operating step, the persistent IP session is maintained active by periodic keep-alive messages from the mobile to the application server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein in the providing step, the persistent IP session is closed by refraining to send a keep-alive message from the mobile to the application server.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining other communications between the mobile and other communication entities in the active and in the dormant mode.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining other communications between the mobile and other communication entities, while in the dormant mode, said communications comprising at least one of voice communications, short message service communications, and data communications, employing an IP session different from the persistent IP session with the application server.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an automatic mode controller wherein the device is switched to the active mode when user activity is detected.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an automatic mode controller wherein the device is switched to the active mode when a user activity is detected including at least one of:

detecting motion in proximity to the mobile device;

detecting a key press;

detecting a touch screen press;

detecting that a display is active; and

detecting an incoming communication.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an automatic mode controller wherein the device is switched to the active mode when the device is connected to a charging device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the charging device is at least one of an AC adaptor, a battery charger, and a host device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating step includes operating an application processor on the mobile device, and the providing step includes suspending operation of the application processor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating step includes operating an application service daemon on an application processor on the mobile device, and the providing step includes suspending operation of the application service daemon.

13. A method of saving energy in a mobile device running an application in synchronous communication with an application server, comprising the steps of:

operating an application in synchronous communication with an application server via a persistent IP session, defining an active mode; and

providing a dormant mode wherein the synchronous communication is disabled in the mobile device; and

programming a user programmable dormancy mode scheduler for scheduling the dormant mode period,

wherein the operating step includes receiving push notifications from the application server on the persistent IP session, and the providing step includes closing the persistent IP session and thereby ending further push notifications.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein in the providing step, the synchronous communication is disabled by the mobile device by at least one of the mobile device closing the persistent IP session, and the mobile device entering a transceiver idle state.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the operating step includes receiving push notifications from the application server on the persistent IP session, and the providing step includes closing the persistent IP session and thereby ending further push notifications.

16. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a housing;

a controller coupled to the housing, the controller configured to run applications in synchronous communication from one or more application servers;

memory coupled to the controller;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller for synchronizing application data between the mobile computing device and the one or more application servers; and

push management module configured to;

operate an application in synchronous communication with an application server via a persistent IP session, defining an active mode, wherein the synchronous communication is automatically enabled by establishing a persistent IP session according to a prearranged schedule; and

provide a dormant mode wherein the synchronous communication is automatically disabled in the mobile device by closing the persistent IP session according to the prearranged schedule, wherein the operating step includes receiving push notifications from the application server on the persistent IP session, and the providing step includes closing the persistent IP session and thereby ending further push notifications.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the push management module includes a user programmable dormancy mode scheduler for scheduling the dormant mode period.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the push management module is further configured to maintain other communications between the mobile and other communication entities.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the push management module is configured to switched to the active mode when certain user activity is detected.